Donna Eckwortzel - Founder & Executive Director
Donna is the dedicated founder of Hearts Landing Ranch, a sanctuary she established in 2013 with a heartfelt mission to support foster, human trafficking victims and local youth through Mentoring and since 2016 Hearts Landing Ranch has been a similar ministry to Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch. And, due to the severity of trafficking and childhood trauma, in 2020 added Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) Program and Donna along with 7 other team members became EAGALA Certified.
Driven by her deep compassion and understanding of mental health challenges, Donna has built a space where individuals can find healing and hope with the help of her team of rescued therapy horses. Her leadership and commitment have made Hearts Landing Ranch a trusted place for transformative, Equine-Assisted care.
Donna is the dedicated founder of Hearts Landing Ranch, a sanctuary she established in 2013 with a heartfelt mission to support foster, human trafficking victims and local youth through Mentoring and since 2016 Hearts Landing Ranch has been a similar ministry to Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch. And, due to the severity of trafficking and childhood trauma, in 2020 added Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) Program and Donna along with 7 other team members became EAGALA Certified.
Driven by her deep compassion and understanding of mental health challenges, Donna has built a space where individuals can find healing and hope with the help of her team of rescued therapy horses. Her leadership and commitment have made Hearts Landing Ranch a trusted place for transformative, Equine-Assisted care.
Nicole Marie Walter - Director of Equine Programs
After volunteering for several years, Nicole became HLRs first employee in 2021. Nicole's education is in Equine Science Management. She has had "hands-on" experience in training and care of horses at multiple well established farms.
In 2020 Nicole also became an EAGALA Certified Equine Specialist.
Nicole strives to teach the knowledge she has gained through her experiences with horses to the volunteers at HLR to further create an environment of connection and healing for anyone who comes to the ranch.
Audrey MacKinnon - Ranch /Business Services
Audrey started volunteering at Hearts Landing Ranch in 2022. She then transitioned to a ranch employee in the spring of 2024. She has been around horses most of her life and had her first job as a riding instructor at the age of 16. She recognizes the healing power of horses and has experienced it in tangible ways both for herself and for the people around her.
In her free time, she loves outside activities like hiking, horseback riding, and snowboarding but most importantly, she also loves spending time with her family and friends (both human and animal).